Splint and guard construction



Feb'. 10, 1948, J. R. SIEBRANDT 2,435,850-

SPLINT AND GURD CONSTRUCTION Filed July 16, 1945 www* Patented Feb. 1 0, .1948 if UNITED STATES PATENT AFFICE i v 'Y 2,435,350

sPLiNT AND GUARD CONSTRUCTION John n. siebranat, Kansas city, M6. Application July 16, 1945, Serial No.1 605,261

tionin splints of the type used more especially for bone fixation and retention, in which splint bars are applied and held by means of transiixion pins in the treatment of fractures.

For the carrying out of such purpose I pro-4 vide improved means for the proper securing of the transxion pins to the splint bars, and also improved guard means for shielding and protecting the exposed parts of the splint structure, whereby such parts are substantially concealed from View, and the projecting ends of the pins are prevented from catching on the clothing or bedding and tearing or otherwise damaging the same.

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention will now be described by 'reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating certain forms of construction which I have found to be suitable for the embodiment of the proposed improvements, after which those features and cornbinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a splint and guard structure embodying the present features of improvement;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, representing a section taken on the line 2*-2 of Figure 1; and

Figures 3 and 4 are-similar sectional views showing slightly modified forms of the splint guard element.

Referring now to the said`drawing in detail, the improved splint and guard construction is illustrated complete in Figure 1, where it is shown as applied to and connecting the two fragments 3 and 4 of a bone fracture.

The splint itself is made up of a square type of bar 5 of proper length to span the fracture, and formed with a plurality of bores 1 for the passage of the transxion pins 9, the points of which are embedded in the bone fragments as indicated at i0 in Figure 1.

When the entire set of pins 9 have been thus applied and adjusted, their outer ends are clamped by means of screw clamping studs l2 formed with wrench recesses or sockets I4 and operating at right angles to the bores 1, for clamping engagement with the outer portions ot v Y 2 s the pins, thus providing a construction in which that face of the bar provided with the studs or screws l2 may be preserved fiat and smooth, the same as the opposite face of the bar, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

As the technique employed in applying the splint leaves the outer or free ends of the pins 9 exposed in projecting relation from the bar. I provide a guard member I6 which is channel or U-shaped in cross-section and adapted to ilt over said projecting ends of the pins 9. This guard member is preferably of light plastic material and of heat-resisting as well as non-electric properties, and also transparent to the X-ray the same as the material of the splint bar.

The edges of the guard member may stop and abut against the face of the splint bar from which the outer ends-of the pins 9 project, and be retained in place by means of suitable screws I8 connecting the sides of the guard and clamping the same against the opposite sides of the pins, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

It may be preferred, however, to extend the sides of the guard member sufficiently to embrace opposite faces of the splint bar 5, or three sides of the bar in all, as illustrated at 1'5 in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3 the edges of the guard terminate at the corners at opposite sides of the bar, and the sides of the guard are formed with slots 20 which permit the guard to be slipped `transversely over the bar as said slots fit over the shanks of screws 22 that are screwed into the opposite ends of bores 24 provided in the bar at right angles to the bores 1.

As a further refinement of the construction, and to provide still more complete coverage or housing for the splint bar, the side portions I8' `of the guard may be formed with right angle extensions forming flanges i6" serving to embrace a portion of the remaining fourth face lof the bar. as illustrated in Figure 4. In this modification the slots 20 are of course omitted with a view to the guard member being simply applied endwise to the bar, to which it may however be secured by screws 22, as in the modification shown in Figure 3, these screws being in this case completely removed for applying or removing the guard device.

It will thus be apparent that I have devised a practical and ecient construction for carrying out the desired objects of my invention. The form of pin clamping element shown provides a neat and secure holding means for the pins. while leaving the exterior face of the splint bar smooth and suitable for the easy and convenient application of the guard member. The guard feature is of particular importance in work of this character, in providing a neat shield or closure for housing all the splint structure and concealing the parts thereof from view, in addition to keeping the projecting parts from snags ging and damaging the clothing or bedding. In

the event of any further examinatiom. or inspection, being required, 'while therSrlltltrisip place-,n the material'of which the guard'is made 'being transparent to X-ray enables such examination to be made without any removal of the guard` member for that purpose. Y l

While I have illustrated and described forms ofV construction which I have found-*to bef-suitable and practical for the embodiment creme/proposed improvements, 'I desire to reserve the right to make whatever changes or modiiicationsmayffbe fairly deemed to fall mithin the scope of the appended claimt I'claim:

A splint structure ,comprising a rseff. of transf-A iixion ypins. a-l splint. .barv .having transxierse pas- JOHN R. SIEBRANDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the `le of this patent:

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,201,864 Overmeyerf Oct. 17, 1916 1 960;89 2 Boever- .Mau.29; 1934 ZlUZfl'f/.liV Allen Dec, .17', .1935 2,141,109: Warden Dec; 20, 193B 2,362,741 Berka Nov. 14. 1944i- 

